Thursday, July 24, 2008

Calories in vs. Calories Out

I just can't seem to stop thinking about weightloss today. While at the gym during Trekking class some of us were talking about weightloss, why and how it happens. Also, why it doesn't happen, when I do everything I should. This has been a common theme amongst women(and even some men, though less rarely) as long as I can remember. Then I really started thinking about:
Calories in vs Calories out- This rings true most of the time. If you create a deficit of calories you will lose weight. (I hear you, why am I NOT losing weight) Lets consider the possibilities, each person is an individual, out bodies each work a little different, so if Liz lost weight doing something doesn't mean you will.
*Are you exercising? Could you possibly be building muscle, replacing fat? Have you taken measurements, there are other ways to tell, do you feel better and have more energy?
*Are you really being 100% honest with yourself with what you are eating? Did you know that each bite you eat while cooking, the handful of little fishes you eat when you give your kids a snack, the two bites you eat off the kids plate that they didn't eat, they all count (meaning they have calories). Put that stuff in the compost and feed your garden instead of your hips. And birthday cake, so sorry but it has calories, not to mention that it is depleting of nutrients. I challenge you to be REALLY honest about what goes into your mouth.
*I was born with a slow metabolism! Well do something about it. Eat healthy WHOLE foods, leave the boxes and bags at the store. Walk whenever you can, exercise, park further away from the store, take the stairs, take your bike, get off the couch! Only you can control your metabolism. Feed your body natural foods, the foods that it can digest! This will help really! Genetics is only a small part of how things inside your body really are. So lets go to it!
*Muscle Weighs More than Fat: Ugh! This statement makes me cringe! A pound is a pound. Period! I have seen this printed in books by highly respected people in the field of nutrition, and even one of my favorite trainers said it(sigh). The truth is, muscle is more dense, therefore, a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat. Which one do you want? It takes energy (calories) for muscles to work. Fat, well it doesn't burn up any energy it only drains it out of you, Building calorie burning muscle is important to weight loss, and maintenance. So get out those weights no excuses.
Your body needs water, so drink it! Not soda, not coffee, or kool-aid or whatever else you may have, Our bodies need clean water. I am not telling you to only drink water, just drink enough of it to keep yourself hydrated on top of whatever it may be. Being only slightly hydrated can slow your metabolism down immensely.
With this statement I will finish up for today. Weightloss is hard, I know I have been there,(you can read a little more about my weightloss here.) So please never give up and always believe in yourself that you are capable of doing anything you want. Maybe not in your own time, but if you plan and persevere you will find success.

3 comments:

I have been reading The China Study and I find it very interesting that if your calories come from plant based whole foods you can have more calories and be thin then if you were comsuming the S.A.D. You would have to eat less calories and would probably still be heavier. Not to mention unhealthier!

Thanks Tam, I am glad that you are reading the China Study.. the book is on my stack, and with school I haven't had much extra time for additional reading. I do have a project that I have to read parts of the China Study online and write a report about it. I am really excited to start reading it...

Special Thanks!

Just wanted to add a note of special thanks to my children, Zach, Ariana and Nikolas and my nephews William, Scott and David, for the use of their adorable toes in the photo on my new header! I know it was such torture to take these pictures however, I thank you, even though not one of the 300 plus photos I took has all of you looking in even close to the same direction! I love all of you just the same!